CCTV AND THE 2010 VANCOUVER GAMES: SPATIAL TACTICS AND POLITICAL STRATEGIES
Michael Vonn
This paper is a brief discussion of CCTV surveillance of public demonstrations from a legal geography perspective, looking at CCTV as a spatial tactic. This paper focuses on this issue in the context of the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver and comments on the political strategies being used in regards to CCTV for the Olympics and more generally.
There are many aspects of CCTV that are legitimately contested and illustrate various nuances in the use and impact of video surveillance. For example, there is research which would indicate that video surveillance in a given context may cause fear in some people, yet be a reassurance to others.
However, almost nobody seems to dispute that cameras aimed at protesters are not there for the protestors' benefit. They are not for the protesters' "safety," nor to "facilitate" their use of public space. Cameras situated primarily for the purpose of capturing expressive activity are not for the speakers, but rather are deployed against the speakers . . .
42 CASE W. RES. J. INT’L L. 595 (2010).
